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Wedding Dress Shopping FAQs

We find that most brides have very similar questions about the whole wedding dress shopping experience: Do I need an appointment? When should I start looking for a dress? What is the whole process? Who should I bring? So we thought we would share answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about wedding dress shopping to help you get an inside view on finding your bridal gown! Here are answers to some Wedding Dress Shopping FAQs:

Do I need an appointment?

This is probably one of our most frequently asked questions, and we hear many mixed opinions about booking appointments. What we can share with you is this: You deserve an amazing experience while shopping for your dress! By booking an appointment, you are reserving a time for one-on-one attention for you and your guests to help you find the perfect dress. Shopping for your wedding dress is unlike any other clothes shopping you’ve done! This is the dress you want to feel stunning in while all eyes are on you coming down the aisle. You are going to want the help of a personal bridal assistant to help you find the perfect dress.

Do you charge and appointment fee?

Every bride is welcome to visit a Step Above Bridal Boutique during regular business hours to browse our beautiful wedding dresses and meet the bridal team. However, our name says it all. We go a step above to make sure our brides have the experience they want, dream of and deserve! We offer three amazing experiences by appointment only. We do charge a reasonable bridal appointment fee for this one of a kind service where you will be pampered for up to 3 hours, pending on the experience you select. Book your experience with confidence that your first step through the door at A Step Above Bridal will be the last step you need to take to find your wedding dress!

When should I start looking for my wedding dress?

Bride’s Magazine suggests that you start looking for your dress about a year in advance, and we couldn’t agree more. If you have the time to start looking a year ahead, do yourself this favor! The last thing you want is to feel extra stress in your wedding planning because you waited until the last minute to look for your wedding dress. When you order your wedding dress it can typically take up to 6 months to come in. This is because each dress is custom ordered just for you! You also want to allow plenty of time for alterations! Most seamstresses will like to have about three fittings with you in your dress, and this part takes time. They need to be able to get your dress to fit you as best as possible, and this involves a lot of intricate work. So, if you have the time, start shopping early so you don’t have to order your dress in a rush and pay extra for rushed alteration.

Who should I bring with me to my appointment?

When deciding who to bring with you to your appointment, you want to think about who will help you with this process and who may make it more difficult. Limit your entourage to two or three others who you trust and love. It helps keep your judgment clear and experience stress free. With that being said, it's your experience so feel free to bring anyone you wish!

What if I already have a dress in mind?

Great! Bring pictures with you to show your bridal assistant what you are drawn toward. A little tip: Most brides fall in love with a dress that is the complete opposite of what they have in mind. Be sure to try on what you think you love along with some things your bridal assistant may choose that you really don’t love at first glance. Trust that she wants to help you find the perfect dress (because that’s what we are here for and we love it!) Keeping an open mind will help make the process of finding the perfect dress so much easier on you!

Do you offer alterations?

A Step Above Bridal Boutique is focused on helping the bride find the perfect wedding dress. Once we achieve this magical moment, we place the dress in your beautiful hands. We do not offer alterations at our location. However, we can recommend a list of experienced seamstresses who work as independent contractors in the Ft Worth area. We highly suggest you find a seamstress close to home for you. At your appointment, your seamstress will be able to provide you with a custom price for the work that is needed for your garment. They typically will need 2 to 3 fittings. Your alterations will take about 3 months or so to complete the work. Plan ahead!

Is wedding dress shopping suppose to be fun?

YES! It certainly should be one of the best experiences in your wedding planning journey. It’s the first moment you see yourself transformed from (just a girl shopping, to a Bride!) Finding your dress should be one of the most fun parts of planning for your special day! At A Step Above Bridal Boutique, we love working with our brides to help them find the perfect dress and have so much fun while doing it! We hope you make an appointment soon. We would love the opportunity to help you find the dress you fall in love with.

Do you ship dresses anywhere in the US?

Yes! If you find the perfect dress on our website and live out of town or state, we will be more than happy to assist you via long distance. With a Step Above being a premiere bridal boutique, working with some of the most amazing designers, we understand that if it is "the dress", it is the dress! We will be happy to ship your wedding dress anywhere in the United States. Shipping charges do apply.

TIP: Visit your local seamstress who will be altering your dress and simply give us your measurements. We will process your order in a timely manner and ship your dress right to your door.

What form of Payments do you accept?

We accept American Express, Discover, MasterCard, and Visa, as well as cash. When you order your dress, we require a 50% deposit at the time of purchase. When the dress arrives, we’ll contact you to schedule a fitting or shipping. At that point, we require payment of the remaining 50% balance. If you are buying a sample dress off the rack, we require 100% payment and you must take the dress home with you the same day. If you’ve requested that we ship your dress to another town or out of state, your balance must be paid in full before it can be shipped.

More Tips

Creating a Budget

Creating a budget is one of the most important aspects of dress shopping! Although very important, it could also be a challenging time. We recommend establishing your budget before you come to find the perfect dress, an important aspect of your dress shopping experience! That being said it can also be one of the most daunting. Before your appointment, it is important to come in with a budget because we have such a wide selection of wedding dresses. But, it’s not just the dress you’ll want to factor in. There’s more to your dress budget than just the dress itself. Below we’ve listed the breakdown.

We want you to have the best shopping experience here at A Step Above and it is truly the most helpful when you have a budget that you’re comfortable with.

$_____________

The Dress

With more than 100 dress samples to try on in our store, and thousands more online, our selection allows brides to find their dream dress in a range that works best for their budget. That being said it is so important to come in with a defined budget. It’s helpful to know the maximum amount you’d be willing to spend and remember that a 50% deposit is due at the time of purchase.

$ ________

Accessories

This includes veil, jewelry, headpiece, shoes… you name it! You will not regret completing your bridal look, but it’s important to factor it in when determining your budget.

$ ________

Alterations

Any dress you purchase, no matter the price, will need alterations. Alterations usually include at least 3 fittings and up to 30 hours perfecting each dress! We do not do in store alterations. Remember to seek a professional alterations company as soon as you purchase your dress.

$ ________

Sales Tax

A Step Above Bridal Boutique charges state sales tax. When your dress arrives, the remaining 50% balance is due. If you plan on shipping your dress out-of-town or out-of-state, we will provide you with a shipping affidavit. Once that is notarized, sales tax is added with a shipping fee starting at $125.